New International Versionalso the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more.
New Living TranslationAll the greenery along the riverbank and all the crops along the river will dry up and blow away.
English Standard VersionThere will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more.
Berean Standard BibleThe bulrushes by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the fields sown along the Nile, will wither, blow away, and be no more.
King James BibleThe paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.
New King James VersionThe papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River, And everything sown by the River, Will wither, be driven away, and be no more.
New American Standard BibleThe bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile And all the sown fields by the Nile Will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
NASB 1995The bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile And all the sown fields by the Nile Will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
NASB 1977The bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile And all the sown fields by the Nile Will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
Legacy Standard BibleThe bulrushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile And all the sown fields by the Nile Will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
Amplified BibleThe meadows by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile, And all the sown fields of the Nile Will become dry, be blown away, and be no more.
Christian Standard BibleThe reeds by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the cultivated areas of the Nile will wither, blow away, and vanish.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThe reeds by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the cultivated areas of the Nile will wither, blow away, and vanish.
American Standard VersionThe meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
Contemporary English VersionFields along the Nile will be completely barren; every plant will disappear.
English Revised VersionThe meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile, shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe rushes by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile, and all the fields planted beside the Nile will dry up, be blown away, and disappear.
Good News Translationand all the crops planted along the banks of the Nile will dry up and be blown away.
International Standard VersionAnd the bulrushes along the Nile, along the mouth of the Nile, will wither away. All the sown fields of the Nile will become parched, and they will be blown away; there will be nothing left.
NET Biblealong with the plants by the mouth of the river. All the cultivated land near the river will turn to dust and be blown away.
New Heart English BibleThe meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, will become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
Webster's Bible TranslationThe paper-reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe bulrushes by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the fields sown along the Nile, will wither, blow away, and be no more.
World English BibleThe meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, will become dry, be driven away, and be no more. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionExposed things by the brook, by the edge of the brook, "" And every sown thing of the brook, has withered, "" It has been driven away, and is not.
Young's Literal Translation Exposed things by the brook, by the edge of the brook, And every sown thing of the brook, hath withered, It hath been driven away, and is not.
Smith's Literal TranslationThe naked places by the river upon the mouth of the river, and everything being sown by the river was dried up, driven away, and nothing of it. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe channel of the river shall be laid bare from its fountain, and every thing sown by the water shall be dried up, it shall wither away, and shall be no more.
Catholic Public Domain VersionThe channel of the river will be stripped down to its source, and everything irrigated by it will dry up and wither and be no more.
New American Bibleand bulrushes on the bank of the Nile; All the sown land along the Nile shall dry up and blow away, and be no more.
New Revised Standard VersionThere will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile; and all that is sown by the Nile will dry up, be driven away, and be no more. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe rushes by the river, and by the mouth of the river, and everything sown by the river shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd pond weed that is on the river and on the mouth of the river and everything that is sown on the side of the river shall dry up and shall be blighted and shall not be found OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The mosses by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, And all that is sown by the Nile, Shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd all the green herbage round about the river, and everything sown by the side of the river, shall be blasted with the wind and dried up.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context An Oracle Concerning Egypt… 6The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither. 7The bulrushesbythe Nile,bythe mouthof the river,and allthe fields sownalong the Nile,will wither,blow away,and be no more.8Then the fishermen will mourn, all who cast a hook into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets on the waters will pine away.…
Cross References Exodus 7:19And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and all the reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.”
Ezekiel 30:12I will make the streams dry up and sell the land to the wicked. By the hands of foreigners I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Genesis 41:2-3when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. / After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river.
Jeremiah 46:7-8Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn? / Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers, boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy the cities and their people.’
Nahum 3:8Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?
Zechariah 10:11They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
Psalm 105:29He turned their waters to blood and caused their fish to die.
Isaiah 37:25I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”
Isaiah 23:3On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations.
Isaiah 15:6The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and the greenery is no more.
Revelation 16:12And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.
Revelation 8:10-11Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. / The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters.
Revelation 9:14saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
Matthew 7:26-27But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”
Luke 6:49But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”
Treasury of Scripture The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. every Isaiah 32:20 Blessedare ye that sow beside all waters, that send forththither the feet of the ox and the ass. Jeremiah 14:4 Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. Ezekiel 19:13 And now sheis planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground. be no more. Jump to Previous BrinkBrooksDriedDrivenDryEdgeEndExposedFieldFieldsGrass-LandsMeadowsMouthNilePaperParchedPlantedPlantsReedsRiverSownWindWitherJump to Next BrinkBrooksDriedDrivenDryEdgeEndExposedFieldFieldsGrass-LandsMeadowsMouthNilePaperParchedPlantedPlantsReedsRiverSownWindWitherIsaiah 19 1.The confusion of Egypt11.The foolishness of their princes18.The calling of Egypt into the church23.The covenant of Egypt, Assyria, and IsraelThe bulrushes by the NileThe bulrushes, or reeds, are plants commonly found along the banks of the Nile River. In ancient Egypt, these plants were vital for making papyrus, a material used for writing. The mention of bulrushes highlights the dependency of Egypt on the Nile for its economic and cultural activities. The imagery of bulrushes also evokes the story of Moses, who was hidden among the reeds of the Nile ( Exodus 2:3). This connection underscores the historical significance of the Nile in biblical narratives and its role in God's deliverance of His people. by the mouth of the river
The mouth of the river refers to the delta region where the Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea. This area was fertile and crucial for agriculture, supporting the prosperity of ancient Egypt. The phrase indicates a geographical location that was essential for trade and sustenance. The prophecy of desolation here suggests a reversal of fortune, where the very source of Egypt's strength becomes a symbol of its downfall. and all the fields sown along the Nile
The fields sown along the Nile were the backbone of Egypt's agricultural economy. The annual flooding of the Nile deposited nutrient-rich silt, making the land extremely fertile. This abundance allowed Egypt to become a powerful nation. The prophecy of these fields withering signifies a divine judgment that disrupts the natural order and prosperity that Egypt relied upon. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over creation and His ability to alter the course of nations. will wither, blow away, and be no more
The imagery of withering and blowing away conveys total desolation and loss. This prophecy foretells a time when Egypt's agricultural wealth will vanish, leading to economic and social collapse. The language echoes other biblical prophecies of judgment, such as those found inIsaiah 40:7-8, where human achievements are compared to grass that withers. This serves as a warning of the impermanence of earthly power and the ultimate authority of God. The phrase also foreshadows the eschatological themes of renewal and restoration found in the broader narrative of Scripture, pointing to a future where God's kingdom will be established in fullness. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Nile RiverA major river in Egypt, central to the nation's agriculture and economy. It is often seen as a symbol of life and sustenance for the Egyptian people. 2. BulrushesPlants that grow along the banks of the Nile. They are symbolic of the fertility and life that the river provides. 3. EgyptA nation historically significant in the Bible, often representing worldly power and reliance on human strength rather than God. 4. IsaiahA prophet in the Old Testament who conveyed God's messages to the people of Israel and surrounding nations, including prophecies of judgment and redemption. 5. JudgmentThe event described in this verse is part of a prophecy of judgment against Egypt, indicating a time when their reliance on the Nile will fail them. Teaching Points Reliance on God, Not ResourcesThe drying up of the Nile symbolizes the futility of relying on worldly resources. Believers are reminded to place their trust in God, who is the ultimate provider. God's Sovereignty Over NationsThis prophecy highlights God's control over all nations and natural resources. It serves as a reminder that no nation is beyond God's reach or judgment. The Consequences of IdolatryEgypt's reliance on the Nile can be seen as a form of idolatry. Christians are encouraged to examine their lives for anything they might be placing above God. The Certainty of God's WordThe fulfillment of prophecies like this one assures believers of the reliability and truth of God's Word. It encourages faith and trust in His promises. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 19:7?
2.How does Isaiah 19:7 illustrate God's sovereignty over natural resources and economies?
3.What lessons can we learn from the drying "plants by the Nile"?
4.How does Isaiah 19:7 connect to God's judgment themes in other scriptures?
5.How can we trust God when facing economic or environmental challenges today?
6.What personal actions can we take to align with God's will in Isaiah 19:7?
7.What historical events does Isaiah 19:7 refer to in ancient Egypt's context?
8.How does Isaiah 19:7 align with archaeological findings about the Nile River?
9.What is the theological significance of the drying river in Isaiah 19:7?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 19?
11.What is the study of Mariology?
12.In Isaiah 19:5-7, is there any historical or scientific evidence of the Nile drying up to the extent described?
13.Isaiah 18:7: Why would the prophecy single out gifts from Ethiopia if there's no clear historical account of such tribute being delivered to Mount Zion?
14.Psalm 107:33-34 - Is there archaeological or geological proof that fertile lands were turned into deserts or rivers dried up purely as an act of divine judgment?What Does Isaiah 19:7 Mean The bulrushes by the Nile• Isaiah points first to the lush reeds that line Egypt’s life-giving river. These bulrushes symbolized the nation’s natural wealth and daily provision (compareExodus 2:3 where Moses’ basket is placed “among the reeds by the bank of the Nile,”). • By singling them out, God highlights that even the most commonplace, dependable signs of life in Egypt will be touched. AsPsalm 104:16 notes, “The trees of the LORD drink their fill,” yet here the very plants tied to water will suffer. • The verse reminds us that no earthly resource is beyond the Lord’s reach; He “dries up the sea” when He wills (Isaiah 44:27).
by the mouth of the river• The “mouth” refers to the Nile Delta, the broad, fertile opening into the Mediterranean. This was Egypt’s agricultural heartland. • God’s warning stretches from the upriver reeds to the very outlet into the sea, leaving no portion of the river system untouched. This mirrors the comprehensive scope of earlier judgments—such as when every stream, canal, and reservoir turned to blood inExodus 7:19-21. • The image echoesProverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse…” Even mighty waterways submit to Him.
and all the fields sown along the Nile• Egypt depended on annual flooding to deposit fertile silt. Fields “sown along the Nile” were the breadbasket not only of Egypt but of surrounding nations (Genesis 41:57). • God warns that the prosperity Joseph once stewarded would now vanish. LikeJoel 1:10, “the ground mourns; the grain is ruined,” Isaiah foresees crop failure on a national scale. • This judgment strikes economic security, exposing that “man does not live on bread alone” (Deuteronomy 8:3;Matthew 4:4).
will wither, blow away, and be no more• Three verbs intensify the certainty and completeness of the loss: – wither: gradual death (Jeremiah 12:4) – blow away: sudden removal (Psalm 1:4) – be no more: final disappearance (Obadiah 1:16) • The language recalls God’s power over nature inNahum 1:4: “He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry.” • For Egypt, whose gods were tied to the river, this drying up unmasks idolatry and calls for humility before the one true God (Isaiah 19:1).
summaryIsaiah 19:7 paints a vivid picture of Egypt’s total dependence on the Nile and God’s absolute authority over that dependence. From river reeds to delta farmlands, nothing escapes His hand. The coming drought would strip away material security, confront false worship, and reveal the Lord as sovereign provider and judge. (7) The paper reeds by the brooks.--Better, the meadows by the Nile.And so in the other clauses, the Hebrew word for "brooks" being used specifically for that river. For "shall wither and be driven away," read, shall dry up and vanish.The valley of the Nile is to become as parched and barren as the desert on either side of it. Verse 7. - The paper reeds by the brooks, etc.; rather, the meadows on the river, along the banks of the river, and every seed-plot by the river. The banks of the Nile were partly grass-land ( Genesis 41:2, 18), partly cultivated in grain or vegetables (Herod., 2:14), in either case producing the most luxuriant crops. All, however, depended on the inundation, and if that failed, or so far as it failed, the results predicted by the prophet would happen.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew The bulrushesעָר֥וֹת(‘ā·rō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6169:A naked, plotbyעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthe Nile,יְא֖וֹר(yə·’ō·wr)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2975:Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigrisbyעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthe mouthפִּ֣י(pî)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310:The mouth, edge, portion, side, according toof the river,יְא֑וֹר(yə·’ō·wr)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2975:Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigrisand allוְכֹל֙(wə·ḵōl)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythe fields sownמִזְרַ֣ע(miz·ra‘)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4218:A planted fieldalong the Nile,יְא֔וֹר(yə·’ō·wr)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2975:Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigriswill wither,יִיבַ֥שׁ(yî·ḇaš)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3001:To be ashamed, confused, disappointed, to dry up, witherblow away,נִדַּ֖ף(nid·dap̄)Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5086:To shove asunder, disperseand be no [more].וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃(wə·’ê·nen·nū)Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 369:A non-entity, a negative particle
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 19:7 The meadows by the Nile by (Isa Isi Is) |
